Card holding folder and in attaching means for the same



y 6, 1952 R. HIRSCHFELDER 2,595,945

CARD HOLDING FOLDER AND IN ATTACHING MEANS FOR THE SAME Filed March 16, 1950 Patented May 6, 1952 CAR-D HOLDING FOLDER AND IN ATTACH- ING MEANS FOR THE SAME Richard Hirschf-elder, Chicago, Ill.

Application March 16, 1950, Serial No. 149,960

My invention relates to improvements in billfolds and more particularly to a card holding folder and to means for attaching the same to a billfold.

One of the objects of my invention is the provision of improved means whereby card holding sections or other articles can be releasably secured and retained within the billfold.

Another object of my invention is the provision of means of the foregoing type which will be compact and inconspicuous, yet efiicient in the performance of its functions.

Other and further objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of a card holding folder embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof.

Fig. *3 is an end elevational view thereof.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing the card holding folder in open position and associated with a billfold.

Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view on an enlarged scale taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 3, and

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a clamping element.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral I designates generally a conventional billfold which in its simplest form consists of inner and outer walls sewed together along their ends and the bottom to provide a partition therebetween open at the top and free upper and lower longitudinal edge portions at the hinge portion of the billfold, the said edge portions being engaged by the securing means forming part of my invention and hereafter to be described.

Referring to Figs. 1-4, my improved card holding folder II is shown as comprising a plurality of window-like sections I2, the said sections being joined in pairs along the inside ends thereof to form book-like leaves hinged together so that the said sections may be folded one on the other in a manner similar to that of folding the billfold along its hinge portion. The said sections may be joined by a hinge portion I3 which may consist of any suitable flexible material so that it may be subjected to bending without cracking or breaking, while the window-like sections may be formed of suitable transparent plastic material. In the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 4, the window sections I2 each are adapted to receive one or more cards. Outer cover sections I are provided, the said sections being preferably formed of leather or similar material and having suit- 1 Claim. (Cl. 15039) able snap fastening elements III-to lock all of the window sections together as a unit.

The securing means for holding the sections I2 together comprises a tubular member I8 having a length substantially equal to the width of the sections I2 and, in the embodiment shown, has a longitudinal slot, II although it is to be understood that the slot may be omitted and the cross section of the tubular member may be entirely circular. Cooperating with the tubular member I6 are two opposed substantially V- shaped clip elements I8 which are identical in construction, and each of which includes legs I9 and 2| which are resiliently urged toward each other by a connecting bight portion 22. The leg I9 is slightly bowed so that when it is received within the tubular member I6 it will frictionally engage the inner walls thereof and will be frictionally retained therein against inadvertent displacement. The terminal end 23 of the leg 2| is turned outwardly away from the leg I9 so that when the leg I9 is slid into the tubular member I6 the end 23 of the leg 2| will not dig into the surfaces with which it comes in contact.

As will be seen more clearly in Fig. 5, the bight portion 22 is inclined towards the leg I9 so that when the said leg is fully inserted within the tubular member I6 the leg 2| is urged with greater force against an opposing surface, thereby insuring secure engagement of the articles between the leg 2| and the tubular member I6. The leg 2 I is substantially straight so that when the clip is in fully inserted position within the tubular member I6 substantially the entire inside face of the leg 2| which is relatively fiat will engage the retained articles.

In order to assemble a plurality of card holding sections I2 into book form, as illustrated in Fig. 4, at least one of the clip elements I8 must be first slid outwardly from engagement with the tubular member I6 and then the said tubular member together with the remaining clip I8 may be slid out of engagement with the hinge portions I3 of the sections I2. The sections I2 may thenbe arranged in desired order and the tubular member and clip slid on to assume the positions shown in Figs. 4 and 5 with the tubular member I6 disposed contiguous to the hinge portion I3 of the outer sections I5. The remaining clip I8 is then slid into the open end of the tubular member I6 and when the parts are in assembled relation they assume the positions illustrated in Fig. 5. It is to be understood thatwhen it is desired to remove one or more sections I2 the same manipulation above described is required.

While the folder II is shown as a complete unit and may be carried independently of a billfold, it is within the contemplation of my invention to incorporate the said folder into a conventional billfold. In such case the folder ll may be secured to the billfold in one of two ways. According to one manner of attaching the folder to the billfold, one of the outer cover sections [5 is inserted in one of the pockets usually provided in conventional billfolds, the normal frictional engagement of the cover section within the pocket serving to retain the folder against inadvertent displacement.

According to another manner of attaching the folder, the outer cover sections l5 preferably, are removed and only the window sections l2 are secured by their hinge portions to the hinge portions of the inner wall of the billfold.

It will be apparent that because of the smooth contours of the tubular member l6 and the bight portions of the clips l8 no sharp points or projections are exposed, such as would catch on or would cause snagging of a bill or paper when the same are inserted into the compartment of the billfold. Additionally, the tubular member It serves to add rigidity transversely of the billfold so as to prevent crushing or injury of any cards that may be contained within the folder or in the billfold itself.

I claim:

In combination with a plurality of pliable elements foldable across their width, a longitudinally closed tubular member extending substantially the full width of said elements, said tubular member open at its opposite ends, a pair of opposed substantially U-shaped spring clips, each having one leg slidably received in REFERENCES CITED- The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,419,092 Schupbach et al. Apr. 15, 1947 2,451,122 Sherwood Oct. 12, 1948 2,455,515 Miller Dec. 7, 1948 2,489,364 Broughton Nov. 29, 1949 

